Friend June 2019 “Father’s Day Jar of Love” Fill a jar almost to the top with pebbles or your dad’s favorite candy. Write things you love about your dad on the craft sticks and stick them in the jar. Cut out the tags and tape them to the outside of the jar.
Friend June 2016 “Funstuff” Here’s a Father’s Day gift any dad (or granddad!) will love. Fill in the blanks below, and read your very own poem.
“When she said that, I was so surprised. Just earlier, I had prayed and asked my Heavenly Father to help me hear the Holy Ghost. All my life I’d had thoughts that guided me to choose the right. Now I knew that those thoughts came from the Holy Ghost!
Since then, I have noticed the Holy Ghost a lot more. Just last Sunday, we were having home evening again. This time it was about testimonies. I didn’t really know what a testimony was, so I asked my dad. He told me that a testimony is something you know or believe to be true. He said we get our testimonies from the Holy Ghost. I then thought of how I started noticing the Holy Ghost more, and BOOM! I also had a testimony!”
How to have successful FHE’s
Friend February 2019 “For Parents of Little Ones” How to help little ones have a good experience with Family Home Evening.
Ensign April 2017 We began holding family home evenings when our girls were one and two years old. The first time, our lesson was too long and complicated. So the next week I brought 10 different pictures of Jesus. We studied each picture briefly and then I asked, “Who is this?” “Jesus,” we all answered. The lesson lasted about three minutes. The following Monday, we had a similar lesson but with temples. “What is this?” “Temple.” Another success! When we went to church, my two-year-old pointed to a picture on the wall and said, “Look, Mommy, temple!” Silently I rejoiced. Cynthia Green, California, USA
Friend April 2016 “For Parents of Little Ones” Information on how to have a successful Family Home Evening
Friend January 1988 “Charades” A family have a fun, well planned family home evening.
Friend April 2016 “Flashlight Family Night” The lights go out during family night but the family has fun together.
Friend April 2017 “Matt and Mandy” Each family member does a part of the FHE.
Games & Activity Ideas
Friend August 2017 Go on a walk to a quiet place like a nature trail or nearby park. Sit and read “Ralphie’s Amazing Find.” Bring your family night treat with you! Maybe some choc balls?
Friend May 2016 Freeze Dance. Pick one person to be the music master. That person picks songs to play, and everyone else dances to the music. When the music master pauses the song, everyone else freezes! Anyone who moves is out. The last person dancing becomes the new music master, or you can take turns if there is a tie. Download free, fun music at lds.org/youth/music.
Matthew 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is aangry with his brother bwithout a cause shall be cin danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, dRaca, shall be ein danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Burying Weapons of Contention
News with Naylors Lesson ideas about contention in the home and finding peace. On the swords write somethings that may be causing contention such as yelling, arguing, not sharing, etc.
Friend July 2020 “My Family Night Fun”The Anti-Nephi-Lehies made a promise with God that they wouldn’t fight again. They buried their weapons in the ground (see Alma 23:7, 24:17). Take a small piece of paper and write down something you want to stop doing, like fighting or complaining. Share what you wrote, and promise to do your best to stop doing that thing. Then rip the paper into tiny pieces and bury it in the ground.
Friend July 2020 “Come Follow Me for Little Ones” Read Alma 23:7 together and talk about how the Anti-Nephi-Lehies promised never to hurt people ever again. Draw weapons on pieces of paper. As you bury each one under a rug or towel, help your littles ones say, “I will be a peacemaker.”
Friend August 2018 “The No-Fighting Promise” After a few days of staying at cousin Timmy’s house, Madi and Timmy start to fight. Timmy suggests they be like the Anti-Nephi-Lehies and make some toy swords and bury them and promise they won’t fight each other anymore. After that they found ways to compromise so they didn’t fight.
Friend September 2019 “3 Ways to Get Along With Others” Love them, forgive them, treat them the way you wanted to be treated. (Includes Golden Rule activity and coloring page.)
Friend May 2019 “What’s on Your Mind” Ideas on how to get along with siblings.
Friend February 2017 “Question Corner” Children’s ideas in how to deal with family members who are being annoying.
Friend June 2017 “For Parents of Little Ones” Ideas for helping children learn how to get along with each other.
Friend February 2017 “Question Corner” Children’s ideas in how to deal with family members who are being annoying.
Friend May 2017 “Hi Friends” When my brother and I fight, I sing the Primary song “Jesus Said Love Everyone.” It helps me be more like Jesus. Nora P., age 4, Florida, USA
Have the children tell about good experiences they have had with their own brothers and sisters. Remind the children that because families can be together forever, they should love and help their brothers and sisters. Share the following quotation with the children: “Your most important friendships should be with your own brothers and sisters and with your father and mother. Love your family. Be loyal to them. Have a genuine concern for your brothers and sisters. Help carry their load” (Ezra Taft Benson, in Conference Report, Apr. 1986, p. 56; or Ensign, May 1986, p. 43).
Have the children discuss family situations such as the following (adapt these if needed and add others to suit the needs of your class):
Your younger sister wants you to play with her instead of going to your friend’s house.
Your older brother is preparing dinner and asks you to help even though it is not your turn.
Your brother is studying for a test in school. You are watching a television program that is distracting him from his studies.How many solutions can you think of for these situations? Which solutions would bring temporary pleasure? Which solutions would bring eternal happiness? Encourage the children to be forgiving and understanding at home.
Friend February 2018 “Peter the Pest” Matthew is angry that his little brother, Peter, always wants to do everything he does and breaks his model dinosaur. His father explains that Matthew is probably the most important person in the world to Peter, and that is why he wants to do eerything he does. Matthew chooses to calm down and apologize to Peter, and their relationship grows stronger.(Also see Lesson Ideas on how to control anger.)
Friend September 2021 “My Side, Your Side” Megan and Mia argue about who’s mess is who’s when cleaning up their room. They want their own rooms. Their mom puts a curtain up in the room to divide it. At first they like it, but then they got lonely and bored. One of them suggested they make a mailbox to write notes to each other. They invite each other to play. Pretty soon they don’t want the curtain because it just gets in the way.
Friend October 2016 “Gone Fishing” Hayden is annoyed that his noisy little brother, Dan, has come fishing with him and his dad, but when Dan disappears Hayden is fearfully worried and realizes how much he loves his little brother.
Friend September 2020 “Loving Our Families”When President Eyring felt frustrated with one of his children for jumping on the bed and was about to get angry, the Holy Ghost reminded him of what a special person his son is. The Holy Ghost can help us too.
Jesus taught the Golden Rule: “All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12).
It is easy to understand why we should treat others the way we would like to be treated. It is because each of God’s sons and daughters is precious (see Matthew 25:40).
Listen to Each Other
Solve the Problem Together
Try to Understand Their Feelings
Respect Each Other’s Feelings
Friend June 2017 “Tickling Trouble” Lizzie and Max learn that we should listen to and respect each other. Pillow fights and tickling is only fun when everyone is having fun.
Try to Show Love (Say and Do Nice Things)
Friend August 2018 “Sisters and Turtles” Ellie’s sister has been grumpy; she got mad at Ellie for sitting on her bed. Ellie gives her sister a special turtle necklace that represents helping someone who gets turned over. Ellie tells her sister she wants to help her get back on her feet whenever she is sad or upset.
Friend February 2019 “Matt and Mandy” Matt and Mandy have a fight, but by dinner time they had forgotten what it was about. They show extra kindness to each other as a way of making amends.
Look for the Good
Friend September 2021 “Saying the Nice Things” Jonathon wasn’t looking forward to the weekend because lately there had been more bickering and teasing in the family. He prayed for help figuring out a way to make things better. Then he had an idea for home evening. When he conducted, he started a new thing where whoever conducts says a nice thing about each family member. Everyone felt warm and happy after Jonathon said nice things about them.
Take Time to Calm Down
Ask Yourself “What Would Jesus Do?”
Friend May 2017 “Hi Friends” When my brother and I fight, I sing the Primary song “Jesus Said Love Everyone.” It helps me be more like Jesus. Nora P., age 4, Florida, USA
Friend August 2017 “For Parents of Little Ones” Teaching little ones empathy and how to apologize and make things right after they have hurt a sibling.
Friend June 2021 “Trying Together” Jack was mad because his mom yelled at him. He had made several wrong choices, including fighting with his brother and not cleaning up his messes. He was also sad. He wished he hadn’t made all those bad choices. He apologized to his mother, and she apologized for yelling. Jack tried to make things right with his mother’s help.
Friend April 2017 “The Blue Sunglasses” Sarah accidently breaks her big sister’s sunglasses. She does her best to make things right.
Friend May 2019 “Five-Year-Olds-Only” Kyle built a great blanket fort but didn’t want to let his little sister in it because she breaks his things. He feels bad though because it made her sad and cry, so he apologizes and invites her in. Afterwards he feels like the fort is even better.
Friend March 2023 “Carousel Kindness” Damien was excited to show his little sister the carousel and the ring game on it. But he got mad at her when she didn’t do it right. He felt bad and apologized and helped her the next time.
Pray for Help
Friend August 1988 “Raymond and the Horrible Little Pest” Raymond says some very mean things to his brother and feels terrible. He prays for help to know how to fix things.
Most children know what it’s like to be angry with a sibling. The story of how Jacob and Esau overcame their anger toward each other may be inspiring to them
Help the children remember why Esau was angry at Jacob (see Genesis 27:41 or “Jacob and Esau” in Old Testament Stories). Ask the children to show you what an angry face looks like. Explain that after many years, Jacob was afraid to visit Esau. Ask the children to show you what a scared face looks like. What should we do when we are afraid? Invite the children to pretend to pray while you read what Jacob said in his prayer (see Genesis 32:11). Then read in Genesis 33:4 what happened when Esau saw Jacob. Ask the children to show you how Jacob’s and Esau’s faces might have looked when they saw each other again.
Show the picture of Jacob and Esau found in this outline. Let the children describe what they see in the picture. Tell them that there had been bad feelings between these two brothers, but they chose to forgive each other. Help the children think of how they could show more love to someone in their family, just as Jacob and Esau showed love to each other.
Friend May 2020 “Sister Squabble” Jaide’s little sister borrowed her tennis shoes without asking and accidentally got them muddy. Jaide was so mad that she told her sister, “I wish you weren’t my sister.” She felt terrible about what she said. She read a scripture about Jesus forgiving and healing someone and she realized, she needed to forgive and try and fix what she had done to her sister with her words.
Friend June 2019 “The Slipper Slip-Up” Bailey loved playing princesses, and she loved the little glass slipper she kept on her shelf that reminded her of princesses. One evening, after reading her a story, her dad accidentally bumped into the shelf and knocked the slipper off and broke it. She was heartbroken, but she told her dad that she forgives him because she loves her dad more than any toy.
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Friend March 2018 “Haircut Disaster” Max is kind to his mom and forgives her when she makes a major mistake while cutting his hair.
Ask the children what they remember about the relationship between Jacob and Esau (see Genesis 27:41 or “Jacob and Esau” in Old Testament Stories). Explain that after being away for about 20 years, Jacob was going to meet Esau again. Read together Genesis 32:6–11. How did Jacob feel? What did he do to get help? Testify that we can ask Heavenly Father for help when our family relationships are difficult. Read together Genesis 33:1–4 to discover how the Lord answered Jacob’s prayer..
“Jacob and Esau” (October 1994 Friend) Find out what happened when Esau met Jacob by matching words to the shapes in a tent.
Spend Quality Time Together
Friend November 2018 “Sister Date” Rachel and Brianna have a bad fight over which tv show to watch. The older sister, Brianna, decides they need to go on sister date and have some fun time together, and this quality time helps them become best friends again.
Friend January 2017 “Time for Addison” Tom doesn’t want his little sister to knock over the tower he built after school, but his little sister misses him and wants to spend time with him, so he figures out something they can do together.
Friend August 2019 “The Get Along Bucket” When Amy and Garrett fight, their mom gets out the “Get-Along Bucket.” They have to choose an activity from the bucket and then do it together, and before long, they are having fun together.
Friend August 2019
Friend July 2015 – A girl learns that she controls how she reacts to annoying brother.
Help the children think of things that are so important that they would want to tell everyone about them. Show the children a copy of “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” and explain that prophets and apostles wrote it to tell everyone how important families are to Heavenly Father. Ask the children why they think families are so important to Heavenly Father. Share something from the proclamation that you feel everyone needs to know about.
Ask the children if they know who wrote the family proclamation. (In his message “The Plan and the Proclamation” [Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 28–31], President Dallin H. Oaks described how it was written.) Help the children understand what the words “solemnly proclaim” in the opening paragraph mean. Ask them to share their thoughts about why the prophets and apostles want to “solemnly proclaim” truths about the family in our day.
Trace each family member’s hand on paper. Then cut them out. Line up all the hands. Talk about how the family is part of God’s plan. Help your little ones say, “Our family is important!”
The family proclamation teaches that we are all children of Heavenly Parents and we are here on earth to become more like Them.
Sing together “I Am a Child of God” (Children’s Songbook,2–3). Then toss a ball or soft object to a child as you say, “I know a child of God named [child’s name].” Ask the child to toss the object to another child, saying the same words and inserting that child’s name. Repeat the activity until everyone has had a turn. Testify that each child is a “beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents.”
Consider ways you could illustrate that because we are children of Heavenly Parents, we can become like Them. For example, show pictures of animals and their babies, or of yourself and your parents or children, and help the children see similarities. Testify that just as babies grow up to be like their parents, we can someday become like our Heavenly Parents.
Show the children a picture of a temple and a picture of a family. Let the children hold the pictures while you read the last sentence of the third paragraph of the family proclamation. Ask them to point to the correct pictures when you read the words “temples” and “families.” Testify that because of the ordinances of the temple, our families can be united forever. Sing together a song about eternal families, such as “I Love to See the Temple” (Children’s Songbook, 95), and help the children listen for words like “temple” and “family.”
Draw a large outline of a heart on the board, and invite the children to read paragraph seven of the proclamation. Ask them to look for things they can do to help their families be happy, and write their answers inside the heart. Invite the children to pick something that they can work on to make their homes happier.
Invite the children to share experiences when they felt loved by a family member. Help the children identify principles from paragraph seven of the proclamation that can help family members feel loved. How should our knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ affect the way we treat our families?
Ask the children what we can do to make various things strong—such as our teeth, our bodies, or a building. What can we do to make our families strong? Help the children understand the principles that lead to happiness in family life, found in paragraph seven of the family proclamation(see also this week’s activity page). Help the children plan ways they will strengthen their families.
Friend June 2004 “Strengthening My Family” Think about what principle or action each picture might represent and how it could strengthen your family. Glue or tape each picture to a strip of paper, and form a paper chain from the strips. (See article for additional lesson ideas.)
Sing “I Will Follow God’s Plan” (Children’s Songbook, 164–65).
Families are an important part of God’s plan. “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” says, “Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.” We can make our families happier by following Jesus.
Now play a game! Sit in a circle. Toss a ball or crumpled sheet of paper from person to person. When you throw the ball to someone, tell them one way you have seen them follow Jesus to help someone in your family feel happy.
To discuss how to achieve more “happiness in [your] family life,” you could sing together a song about families, such as “Home Can Be a Heaven on Earth” (Hymns, no. 298). What do we learn from the song and from the family proclamationthat would bring more happiness to our family? How can we make sure our family is “founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ”? Consider picking one teaching you want to work on this week.
“Strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.”
How is Satan trying to weaken families in the world? How can we do our part to strengthen families? For ideas, see President Bonnie L. Oscarson’s message “Defenders of the Family Proclamation” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 14–17).
Share a few statements from the family proclamation that are especially meaningful to you. Invite the children to share their feelings about those truths. How would our lives be different if we did not know these things? Sing together a song that relates to truths found in the proclamation, such as “I Will Follow God’s Plan” or “Families Can Be Together Forever” (Children’s Songbook, 164–65, 188).
Show the children pictures (or invite them to draw some) portraying truths found in the family proclamation. These could be pictures of a temple, a family praying or playing together, or a couple getting married. Invite the children to find sentences in the family proclamation that relate to the pictures. What do these sentences teach us?
Prepare some questions that can be answered in the family proclamation, such as “How does God feel about marriage?” and “What makes a happy family?” Let each child pick a question, and help them find answers in the proclamation.
Invite a mother and father of one of the children to share with the class how they “help one another as equal partners” in their “sacred responsibilities” in their family. Invite the children to discuss what they can do now to prepare to be righteous wives and husbands, mothers and fathers.
Ask the children what they would say if a friend asked them why getting married or having children is important. How could we help this friend understand how important families are to Heavenly Father? Help the children find statements in the family proclamation that could help; see also the video “What Is the Purpose of Family?” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org).
To help your family see the importance of families in Heavenly Father’s plan, you might write premortal life,mortal life,and life after death on three sections of a piece of paper. Search the proclamation together, and write on the paper what you learn about each of these parts of God’s plan. Why are families so important to God?
“The Family: A Proclamation to the World” is modern-day revelation. Have the children listen for how many times they hear the words “reveal” or “revealed” as they repeat the ninth article of faith together. Teach that God continues to reveal His will to His children. This communication from God is called revelation. Give a copy of “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” to each child, and explain that the proclamation is revelation given in our day through God’s chosen servants. Have the boys read the title while the girls listen for what this proclamation is about (the family). Next, have the girls read the title while the boys listen for whom the revelation is to (the world). Tell the children that the proclamation teaches us what Heavenly Father wants us to know about families. It teaches us how we can strengthen our families and how to prepare to live in an eternal family.Provide each class with a different sentence or phrase from the proclamation with some words missing. Have them work together to fill in the blanks with the correct words. You may want to include the paragraph number and provide the answers in scrambled order. For example: “The _____ is _____ to the Creator’s _____ for the eternal destiny of His children” (paragraph 1: plan, family, central). Invite each class to stand and recite their completed phrase or sentence. Sing the first verse of “The Family Is of God” (Friend, Oct. 2008, 28–29). Emphasize that the proclamation on the family is revelation from God and that we need to understand and live its teachings.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Ruth; 1 Samuel 1–3” When Ruth’s husband died, she could have stayed in her home country, but she chose to go with her widowed mother-in-law, Naomi, and care for her. Consider how Ruth’s Christlike example could inspire the children you teach to be kind to those around them.
Invite the children to represent Naomi, Ruth, Boaz, or other characters as you tell their story from the book of Ruth (see also “Ruth and Naomi” in Old Testament Stories). Invite the children to raise their hands every time they hear an act of kindness in the story. How do we feel when people are kind to us? How do we feel when we are kind to others?
Sing together a song about being kind, such as “Kindness Begins with Me” (Children’s Songbook, 145). Help the children think of ways they can be kind to their family and friends. If they need help, show them pictures of people showing kindness. For every idea mentioned, let the children draw a heart on the board.
After Ruth became a widow, she chose to stay with her mother-in-law, Naomi, instead of returning to her people, “for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God” (Ruth 1:16).
Ruth supported Naomi by staying with her. Try this activity to learn about supporting family:
Choose a family member and stand back-to-back. Place any object (a small ball or a book) between each other’s backs.
Working as a team, see how many steps you can take together without letting the object fall.
Take turns as a family until everyone has had a chance to work as a team to help each other.
Discussion: How did Ruth and Naomi help each other? Ruth believed in Heavenly Father and had faith, so she stayed with Naomi. How was she blessed? How can we support each other and trust the Lord when we have difficulties?
Story: Read about Ruth in the scripture story on page 8. She worked hard and gathered grain to take care of her husband’s mother. God blessed her for serving others.
Activity: Cut out pieces of paper in the shape of grain kernels. Use a stick or long piece of paper as a stem. Glue or tape your kernels to the stem to make a stalk of grain. Whenever you serve someone, pull off a kernel. Keep going until the stem is bare!
Lesson 26: Ruth and Naomi,” Primary 6: Old Testament (1996), 114–16 To help the children have the desire to follow the example of righteous people and to be good examples themselves.
Friend July 2018 “Ruth was a Loyal Friend” Link includes story and goal card ideas to learn how to be a good friend like Ruth.
Friend April 2015 “April’s New Wheelchair” April’s brother helps her see that she can learn to get around in her wheelchair.
Friend April 2015 “Cheering Up Grandpa” After Mike’s grandmother dies, his grandpa becomes very sad, even when gardening. Mike nominates his grandpa for Gardener of the Year hoping to help his grandpa feel better.
Friend April 2015
Friend April 2015
Giving Time to Those We Love
Friend April 1988 “Hero Sister” Cassie takes her sister to the bus stop and stays with her until the buss arrives, even though she needs to get to school to finish some homework. While waiting, Cassie saves her sister from a runaway car.
Service Helps Us Be Happy
Friend June 2016 Two sisters throw a bedroom sleepover party for their younger sister because she feels left out.
Friend April 2016 “Off to Chicago” Alex is sad his brother will be gone for 3 days, but he makes a gift to help his brother not be lonely and that makes Alex feel better.
Friend April 2016 “Love Spoken” Cassie makes a recording of her mother’s favorite story for her mom to listen to while she’s sick. She learned this from her mom.
Friend January 2016 “The Cleanup Crew” Skit about children thinking of a way to help their mother.
Friend October 2015 “The Doll in the Green Dress” – Girl sacrifices what she wants when she chooses a doll, out of love for her sister.
Friend September 2020 “I Love My Family!” In Heavenly Father’s plan, we are all part of a family! We have a heavenly family and a family on earth. We can be with our families forever.
Friend April 2021 Homes come in many shapes and sizes. No matter what a house is made of, it’s the people inside who are important! Trace the drawings of these homes from around the world. Then draw your own house.
Friend September 2023 “Building Respect” When Noah’s sister and her friends walked by, a friend of Noah’s said mean things about girls, and that they didn’t want to play with them. Noah stood up for his sister and asked his friend not to say things like that.
Families are a Treasure
Ensign February 2017 President Monson tells a story about a mother who had a special treasure box. When her children opened the box, they found pictures of themselves. The mother’s treasure was her family!
True treasure isn’t gold or jewels—it’s the people you love. Whom do you love? Draw a picture of them or write their names in the treasure box.
Variety in Families
Friend June 2020 “What’s on Your Mind” Sometimes I worry about my family. How can I feel OK when my family isn’t perfect? Sometimes it might seem like other families are perfect. But every family is different, and they all have challenges. See the below pictures of families in the scriptures.
Family Happiness
Friend November 2009 “A Happy Home.” This cut-and-paste activity reminds us of the things we can do to make our homes a happier place.
Jacob loves and favors Joseph, who is hated by his brothers—Joseph dreams that his parents and brothers make obeisance to him—His brothers sell him into Egypt.
To tell the story of Joseph and his brothers from Genesis 37. Let the children help by sharing details they know about the story. Ask them questions such as, “How were Joseph’s brothers unkind to him?” Help the children think of things the brothers could have done to show love to Joseph. What should we do when we feel anger toward members of our family?
Friend September 2021 “Saying the Nice Things” Jonathon wasn’t looking forward to the weekend because lately there had been more bickering and teasing in the family. He prayed for help figuring out a way to make things better. Then he had an idea for home evening. When he conducted, he started a new thing where whoever conducts says a nice thing about each family member. Everyone felt warm and happy after Jonathon said nice things about them.
Friend June 2019 “Family Night Fun” Ideas for a FHE lesson on family love. For example: Write on hearts things you love about each other or things you can do to show kindness in your family. Put the hearts around your house to remind you to show love this week. Also, make a strawberry heart shish-ka-bob for the refreshment
Ensign July 2017 Make a paper doll chain and on each doll write something you love about a family member.
Everyone sit in a circle. Discuss some small acts of kindness family members can do for each other.
Place a pencil in the middle of the circle.
Take turns spinning the pencil.
Whoever the pencil points to must act out as many kindnesses as possible in one minute.
Continue until each person has had at least one turn.
Friend October 2019 “Family Night Fun” Have each person write their name at the bottom of a paper and draw an outline of their head in the middle. Have everyone pass their paper to the person next to them. Add something to the head—like eyes or hair—to look like the person whose name is on the paper. Then write something nice about them on the page. Keep passing the papers, adding to the pictures and writing nice things, until everyone gets their own paper back. You can strengthen your family by being kind and seeing the best in each other!
Friend September 2016 “Family Night Fun” Musical chairs but when someone gets out have everyone say one nice thing about them. Look for the good.
Friend September 2016
Friend July 2015 – A girl learns that she controls how she reacts to annoying brother.
Show a picture of a family (see Gospel Art Book, no. 112), or invite the children to draw pictures of their families. Ask them to share ways they can be kind to their family members.
Let the children color this week’s activity page and, in the space provided, draw a picture of family members being kind.
Sing together a song about loving our families, such as “A Happy Family” (Children’s Songbook, 198). What can we do to help our families be happy?
Write on separate pieces of paper some activities, traditions, and actions that can help develop unity within a family, such as family home evening, family prayer, family scripture study, mealtime, holiday celebrations, birthday celebrations, being kind to each other, and being unselfish.Discuss with the children what unity means and how unity can be developed within a family. To help the children identify ways that their families can develop feelings of love and unity, let each child choose a piece of paper and give clues to the other children about the activity or action described on his or her paper. Have the other children guess the activity or action. Then invite the children to tell about how that activity or action has blessed and strengthened their families.
Read Doctrine and Covenants 38:24-25 Explain that when God says something twice in a row, it is probably something that we should pay extra attention to. What does it mean to esteem someone as yourself? We need to value others as much as we value ourselves. We need each other. We need each others strength, support, and gifts and talents. Have the children tell what different parts of the body does. Explain that each part of the body is important and needed. Just like our body parts are united and working together, we need to be united as people and learn to work together as one.
To teach children what it means to “be one,” you could help them count the members of your family and talk about why each person is important to your family. Emphasize that together you are one family. You could help your children draw a large 1 on a poster and decorate it with names and drawings or pictures of each family member. You could also write on the poster things you will do to be more united as a family. You might also watch the video “Love in Our Hearts” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org) or read Moses 7:18.
Choose a partner and stand next to each other, shoulder to shoulder. Use a scarf or rope to gently tie your ankle to your partner’s. Work together to practice walking. How fast can you get safely from one place to another?
Sing “Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel” (Hymns, no. 252).
1. I know you, and you know me. We are as diff’rent as the sun and the sea I know you, and you know me, And that’s the way it’s supposed to be.
2. I help you, and you help me. We learn from problems, and we’re starting to see. I help you, and you help me, And that’s the way it’s supposed to be.
3. I love you, and you love me We reach together for the best we can be I love you, and you love me, And that’s the way it’s supposed to be.
Choose one person to walk through the middle of the group.
Repeat the exercise but this time as a group stand closer together, linking arms and hands if possible.
Discussion: How are we more protected from outside influences as we stand stronger and closer together? How does greater unity protect us?
Ensign August 2019 “Family Study Fun: Human Knot” (best with four-plus people) Paul tells the Saints that there should be “no divisions among” them and that they should be “perfectly joined together” in mind and judgment (1 Corinthians 1:10). Stand everyone in a circle. Have everyone reach out their right hand and take someone else’s (not next to them). Do the same with the left hand, taking a different person’s hand. Work together to untangle the knot without letting go of any hands. End up in a circle again. Discussion: What can we do as a family to be more “joined together”? How can we work together to remove divisions?
Family Council
Friend July 2017 “What is a Family Council?” A family council is a meeting on any day of the week. It can be with just you and a parent or with your whole family.
Families Work Together
Friend March 2018 “Funstuff” Have the family work together to put together the tangram puzzle of the house. Explain that when family members each help contribute to building a strong, happy family then all the pieces of family life fit together properly and harmoniously.
Friend March 2018
Friend July 2017 “Busy Like a Bee” Elder Ballard tells how bees work together to strengthen the hive.
Share with the children the information about Brigham Young in “Chapter 50: The Saints in Nauvoo” (Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 184), or summarize Doctrine and Covenants 126 in your own words. Then read Doctrine and Covenants 126:3 to the children, emphasizing the phrase “take especial care of your family.” What does it mean to take care of our families? Help the children think of ways they can show love to their family members.
Before class, invite the children to bring a picture of their family (or ask them to draw pictures). Then ask them to share something they love about their family. Share a picture of your family, and do the same. Explain why Heavenly Father wants us to care for our family members. Sing a song that teaches this truth, such as “When We’re Helping” (Children’s Songbook, 198).
Read together Doctrine and Covenants 126:3. Why might Heavenly Father have asked Brigham Young to “take especial care of [his] family”? How can we do the same for our families? Make a list of the things we can do now to serve our families. How will doing these things help us become more like Heavenly Father?
Share with the children Sister Carole M. Stephens’s story about her grandson Porter (see “We Have Great Reason to Rejoice,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 115). What did Porter do to take care of his family? How can we follow his example?
Reading this counsel to Brigham Young might inspire your family to talk about how you might spend more time taking “especial care of” (verse 3) each other.
Friend January 2017 “Show & Tell” My three-month-old baby sister woke up crying from her nap while my mom was in the shower. I sang Primary songs to her, and she smiled at me. I kept singing to her until my mom was able to get her. Nora R., age 4, Virginia, USA
Friend November 2022 “A Happy Helper” Felix helps his mom get ready for Grandpa’s visit. Activity: Heavenly Father wants us to help others. Point to ways these children are helping.
Siblings
Friend May 2017 ” Conference Notes” Sister Jones told the story of five-year-old Lizzie and her big brother, Kevin. Kevin’s dad asked him if he would promise not to tease Lizzie for one day. Kevin agreed. He kept his promise! Then his mom asked him to try not teasing Lizzie for two days. He kept his promise again! Sister Jones said that when we keep our promises, we are learning to make and keep sacred covenants.
What this teaches me:
New Baby in Family
Friend November 2016 “For Parents of Little Ones” Ideas on how to help a child adjust to having a new baby brother or sister.
Friend November 2023 “Helping Baby Brother” Lashia has a new baby brother and her mom and dad are very busy and she feels lonely. Her mother suggests that she help take care of the baby. She and her younger sister found lots of ways to help. She was glad she could help her baby brother, and her mom and dad too!
Friend January 2017 “Show & Tell” At a stake conference broadcast, Elder Hales talked about not raising our voices. I am trying not to raise my voice at my brothers. Jackson P., age 7, Tennessee, USA
Friend June 2022 “The Big Brother List” Andrew’s little sister, Samantha, kept playing with his things. One day Andrew drew a picture for his grandma, but his sister drew all over it and ruined it. He was tired of being a big brother. His mom suggested he write down some things he liked doing with her. He realized that there were lots of good things about being a big brother!
Friend October 2022 “Jesus Helped His Mother”Jesus Christ went to a wedding in Cana. His mother, Mary, was there. She told Jesus that they were out of wine. Jesus asked His mother what she wanted Him to do. He performed a miracle and turned water into wine. Jesus loved His mother and helped her.
Friend October 2022 “Jesus Helped His Mother” My mom is allergic to dogs. We went to my friend’s house, and they have a dog. When we got home, my mom had hives on her face. I gave her an ice pack, a pillow, and a blanket. Soon her hives started to clear up. I am happy I helped my mom. (see image at link) Penelope B., age 9, Utah, USA
Friend April 2021 “Scripture Time Fun for Little Ones” Show your little ones how to make a heart shape with their hands while saying, “I love my family.” Look through picture books or photos and help your child practice saying names of family members.
Friend June 2019 “Family Night Fun” Ideas for a FHE lesson on family love. For example: Write on hearts things you love about each other or things you can do to show kindness in your family. Put the hearts around your house to remind you to show love this week. Also, make a strawberry heart shish-ka-bob for the refreshment
Ensign July 2017 Make a paper doll chain and on each doll write something you love about a family member.
Friend June 2017 “Hope for My Family” Henry B. Eyring: The hope of feeling family love now and throughout eternity.
Write the name of each family member on separate pieces of paper. Pass these papers around from person to person. On each page, each person writes what they love most about the family member whose name is at the top of the paper. Ensign January 2016
Friend April 2017 “Be Consistent and Keep Trying” Elder Bednar persisted in having family prayer and scripture study and in trying to get his father to join the church, and his persistence paid off.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 As you read 1 Nephi 16:21–32 together, help your children discover how Nephi’s example blessed his family (see also the video “The Lord Guides Lehi’s Journey” [Gospel Library]). This could lead to a discussion about how we could be like Nephi. Invite your children to plan one thing they can do to be a good influence on other family members.
The Cozy Red Cottage Example match game cards also include truthful, forgiving, peacemaker, kind & loving, unselfish. (The link to download the free printables is at the end of the post.)
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020: 1 Nephi 11-15 Assign each child to draw a picture of something from the story of Nephi’s broken bow (see 1 Nephi 16:14–32), such as Nephi, a bow, or the Liahona. Then use the pictures to tell the story to the class, and let the children take turns doing the same. How can we be like Nephi when our families are going through hard times?
The Red Crystal How would someone with faith and hope react to the following situations? How would someone who is murmuring react?
The Cozy Red Cottage The manual states, “Perhaps your family could contrast Nephi’s account of traveling in the wilderness (see 1 Nephi 17:1-6) with his brothers’ account (1 Nephi 17:17-22). Why do you think they saw the same events differently? What can we learn from Nephi about having a faithful perspective?” (Could write responses to the above situations on this form.)
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020: 1 Nephi 11-15 Invite the children to each cut out a paper circle and draw a sad face on one side and a happy face on another. As you tell the story of Nephi’s broken bow, invite them to use the faces to show how Nephi’s family was feeling during different parts of the story. How did Nephi help make his family happy? What can we do to make our families happy?
No home is perfect, but there are things we can all do to make our homes into holy places of peace.
Explain to the children that Joseph Smith was worried about things that were happening in the world. Summarize the heading to section 87, or read “Chapter 30: A Revelation about War” (Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 117–18; see also the video on ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Ask the children to listen for things that might have made Joseph worried. To teach what the Lord said we should do about those problems, read Doctrine and Covenants 87:8.
Show a picture of a temple, and share why the temple is a holy place. Show a picture of a home, and help the children think of ways they can make their homes holy like the temple (see this week’s activity page). Why do we want to be in holy places?
To introduce a discussion about how to make your home a holier place, you could invite family members to design a home for someone who loves the Savior. This may lead to ideas about how to “redesign” your home to make it a place of peace amid the spiritual danger in the world. Songs like “Love at Home,” “Home Can Be a Heaven on Earth” (Hymns,nos. 294, 298), or “Where Love Is” (Children’s Songbook, 138–39) could give you ideas.
The Lord’s instructions regarding the “house of God” can be a helpful guide for us as we build our lives and our homes.
Invite the children to choose seven words that describe their home or another home they’ve visited. Then ask them to read Doctrine and Covenants 88:119 and find the seven words the Lord uses to describe His house. Help the children think of ways they can make their homes a “house of God.”
Give each child a phrase from Doctrine and Covenants 88:119–26 to draw. When they show their pictures to each other, let the children search the verses to guess what phrase each picture represents.
Write on the board Do and Don’t. Invite the children to read Doctrine and Covenants 88:119–26 and list things the Lord wanted the Saints to do or not do to prepare to learn in the temple. They could look up unfamiliar words in a dictionary. Invite the children to choose something that they will start doing or something they will stop doing.
Our homes can follow this pattern: “Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:119).
Organize means to arrange things in order or to prepare an activity or event.
Organize your family in different ways:
Have them stand in line from oldest to youngest.
Have them stand in alphabetical order, according to their first name.
Have them line up according to the month of their birth.
Discussion: How does the Savior want us to organize ourselves (1) in our household jobs, (2) in our spiritual study, (3) in our worship at church and in the temple?
What goals can your family set to create a “house of God”?
To inspire your family to make your home like the description in verse 119, try something like this: Write phrases from this verse on strips of paper, and use them to cover a picture of the temple. Read Doctrine and Covenants 88:119 together, and let family members remove each strip of paper as they hear the corresponding phrase in the verse. What can we do to make our home a “house of God”? (verse 119).
Sing “Home Can Be a Heaven on Earth” (Hymns, no. 298).
Heavenly Father wants us to “establish … a house of God” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:119). He wants us to make our homes holy places like the temple, where we can feel the Holy Ghost.
Read “The Important Guest” on page 4. Then build a house out of blocks, sticks, or other items you can find. Every time you add a piece to the house, say something you can do to make your home a place where the Holy Ghost feels welcome.
Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Old Testament 2022 What does it mean for the Lord to help us “build [our] house”? (Psalm 127:1). How can we better involve Him in our efforts to create a righteous home? To help your family answer this question, you might draw a house on a piece of paper and cut it into puzzle pieces. On the back of each piece, family members could write or draw ways to make the Lord part of your home. Then you could put the puzzle together. What else do we find in these psalms that inspires us to walk in the Lord’s ways?
Hubbard’s Cupboard Click on the link to print the 6 pieces of this house. The children (or family members) could each write a way to create a righteous home on the front of a piece and then they could build the house together. Or each child (or family member) could draw a part of the house on a paper or chalkboard as they mention ways make a righteous home.
Everyone sit in a circle. Discuss some small acts of kindness family members can do for each other.
Place a pencil in the middle of the circle.
Take turns spinning the pencil.
Whoever the pencil points to must act out as many kindnesses as possible in one minute.
Continue until each person has had at least one turn.
Discussion: What acts of kindness can we do for our neighbors, ward members, ourselves? How can even small, simple acts lead to great things?
Friend October 2019 “Family Night Fun” Have each person write their name at the bottom of a paper and draw an outline of their head in the middle. Have everyone pass their paper to the person next to them. Add something to the head—like eyes or hair—to look like the person whose name is on the paper. Then write something nice about them on the page. Keep passing the papers, adding to the pictures and writing nice things, until everyone gets their own paper back. You can strengthen your family by being kind and seeing the best in each other!
Friend September 2016 “Family Night Fun” Musical chairs but when someone gets out have everyone say one nice thing about them. Look for the good.
Friend September 2016
Families Are Forever
SECTION 131
1–4, Celestial marriage is essential to exaltation in the highest heaven; 5–6, How men are sealed up unto eternal life is explained; 7–8, All spirit is matter.
SECTION 132
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Nauvoo, Illinois, recorded July 12, 1843, relating to the new and everlasting covenant, including the eternity of the marriage covenant and the principle of plural marriage. Although the revelation was recorded in 1843, evidence indicates that some of the principles involved in this revelation were known by the Prophet as early as 1831. See Official Declaration 1.
1–6, Exaltation is gained through the new and everlasting covenant; 7–14, The terms and conditions of that covenant are set forth; 15–20, Celestial marriage and a continuation of the family unit enable men to become gods; 21–25, The strait and narrow way leads to eternal lives; 26–27, The law is given relative to blasphemy against the Holy Ghost; 28–39, Promises of eternal increase and exaltation are made to prophets and Saints in all ages; 40–47, Joseph Smith is given the power to bind and seal on earth and in heaven; 48–50, The Lord seals upon him his exaltation; 51–57, Emma Smith is counseled to be faithful and true; 58–66, Laws governing plural marriage are set forth.
Heavenly Father Made it Possible for Families to be Together Forever.
Through Joseph Smith, the Lord restored the ordinances and authority needed to make these relationships eternal (see Doctrine and Covenants 132:7, 18–19).
Through the Lord’s sealing power and the ordinances of the temple, our family relationships can last eternally if we keep our covenants.
Help the children think of examples of things that do not last forever—food that spoils, flowers that wither, and so on. Show a picture of your family, and share how you feel about them. Testify that the Lord has made it possible, through the ordinances of the temple, for families to last forever.
Open the Doctrine and Covenants to section 132, and tell the children that this is a revelation to Joseph Smith about marriage and families. Show them verse 19, and point to the words “through all eternity” as you read them. Invite the children to read these words with you.
Help the children make paper dolls representing members of their family (see this week’s activity page). Cut them out, and put them in an envelope or attach them together with a paper clip to represent the sealing power that can make our families eternal.
Regardless of our current family situation, we can make choices now that will prepare us to receive the blessings of an eternal family in the future.
Ask some of the children to read Doctrine and Covenants 131:1–4 and others to read 132:15. Help them discover what these verses teach about marriage. Select key phrases from 132:19 (such as “if a man marry a wife,” “everlasting covenant,” “sealed,” “abide in my covenant,” “through all eternity,” and “forever and ever”), and ask the children to find these phrases in the verse. What do these phrases teach us about marriage?
Sing “Families Can Be Together Forever” (Children’s Songbook, 188), or review “Chapter 55: A Revelation about Marriage” (Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 198). Ask the children to listen for and be prepared to share what we must do so that our families can be eternal. Testify that no matter our current family situation, we can prepare ourselves to be part of an eternal family.
Ask some of the children to read Doctrine and Covenants 131:1–4 and others to read 132:15. Help them discover what these verses teach about marriage. Select key phrases from 132:19 (such as “if a man marry a wife,” “everlasting covenant,” “sealed,” “abide in my covenant,” “through all eternity,” and “forever and ever”), and ask the children to find these phrases in the verse. What do these phrases teach us about marriage?
Sing “Families Can Be Together Forever” (Children’s Songbook, 188), or review “Chapter 55: A Revelation about Marriage” (Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 198). Ask the children to listen for and be prepared to share what we must do so that our families can be eternal. Testify that no matter our current family situation, we can prepare ourselves to be part of an eternal family.
Sing “Families Can Be Together Forever” (Children’s Songbook, 188).
Jesus taught that families are important. In the temple, we can be sealed to our families forever (see Doctrine and Covenants 132:19).
Make a family tree! Have each family member make a paper leaf and write their name on it. On another paper, draw a tree trunk. Then glue or tape the leaves to the top of the tree.
Friend March 2018 “What’s on Your Mind” A child wants to know how his family will be together forever if his parents are divorced.
Friend June 2017 “Hope for My Family” Henry B. Eyring: The hope of feeling family love now and throughout eternity.
Ensign August 2016 “The Hope of Eternal Family Love” Because of Jesus Christ’s Atonement and the restoration of priesthood power to seal families, we can live with our families forever! What do you love about your family? Follow these instructions to make this paper chain to celebrate your family. Fold a piece of paper in half twice so you have one long strip. Draw a person with hands reaching the folded edges. Cut the person out. Don’t cut where the hands touch the folded edges. Unfold it. Write or draw something you love about each family member. Tape multiple chains together if you have a larger family!
Make a family banner with the family name on it, and then draw pictures of what is important to your family, like the temple, love, Jesus, etc.
Sing together the second verse of “Families Can Be Together Forever” (Children’s Songbook, 188) or another song about families. Help the children think of ways they can prepare to be married in the temple someday and have an eternal family.
Friend October 2023 “Remembering Abuela” Lyan and her family were celebrating “Day of the Dead” . But this year was different because her grandmother was one of the family members they would remembering. Lyan missed her grandmother. But her mother helped her remember that because of Jesus Christ, they would all be resurrected. And since they were sealed in the temple, they would all be together as a family someday.
Family Adversity
Divorce
Friend August 2015 “Help! Someone’s Getting a Divorce” – responses to children’s concerns.
From the time of Adam and Eve, parents have been commanded to teach their children the gospel. How can you encourage the children to listen to and follow the righteous teachings of their parents?
Read Moses 6:58 to the children, and show the picture of Adam and Eve’s family in this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families. Help the children repeat the phrase “teach these things freely unto your children.” Explain that God wants all parents to follow Adam and Eve’s example by teaching their children about Jesus Christ and His gospel. Ask the children what they can do when their parents or others teach them the gospel.
Help the children match pictures of themselves to their parents or pictures of baby animals to adult animals. How do parents help their children? What do they teach them? Ask the children to draw pictures of their families at times when parents teach children, such as reading the scriptures together, praying together, or eating together.
Parents are Responsible to Teach Their Children.
God trusts parents to be the primary gospel teachers in their families. How can you encourage the children to support their parents in this role?
Ask a child to read Moses 6:58. What commandment did Heavenly Father give to parents in this verse? Show a picture of Adam and Eve teaching their children (see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families), and let the children talk about what they see in the picture. Encourage them to talk about important gospel truths they have learned from their families.
Help the children write thank-you notes to their parents or plan other simple ways to express their appreciation for their parents. Sing a song about families, such as “Love Is Spoken Here” (Children’s Songbook, 190–91). How can we help our parents create a loving atmosphere in our homes?
Friend March 2019 “A Lesson From My Parents” Color the pictures and circle the things a parent or other family member has taught you. What else can you think of?
Help the children understand what the phrase “marriage is ordained of God” means. Invite them to work in pairs to compare Doctrine and Covenants 49:15–17 with the first three paragraphs of “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.” Why is marriage so important to Heavenly Father?
What truths about marriage do you learn from Doctrine and Covenants 49:15–17? Why do you feel marriage between a man and a woman is essential to Heavenly Father’s plan? Elder David A. Bednar gave two reasons: “Reason 1: The natures of male and female spirits complete and perfect each other, and therefore men and women are intended to progress together toward exaltation. … Reason 2: By divine design, both a man and a woman are needed to bring children into mortality and to provide the best setting for the rearing and nurturing of children” (“Marriage Is Essential to His Eternal Plan,” Ensign, June 2006, 83–84). See also 1 Corinthians 11:11
United We Stand Pair up two people of relatively equal size. Have them sit on the floor back to back, arms linked. Have them stand up by pushing off each other. Repeat, but this time have only one person push.
Discussion: Why is having two people work together easier? Read “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” (see Ensign,May 2017, 145). What roles do fathers and mothers have? How do they work together?
Friend March 2019 “A Lesson From My Parents” Color the pictures and circle the things a parent or other family member has taught you. What else can you think of?
Friend November 2019 “Kindness Flowers” A kindness game like the game “hangman” you can play with a family member. Think of a kind word that describes the other person. Have the other person guess which letters are in the mystery word. If they guess correctly, write that letter in the blank. If they guess a letter that’s not in the word, draw a petal on the flower and write that letter in it.’
Friend March 2020 ” Funstuff: Find It!” This family enjoys working together to gather food to eat. Can you find 15 coconuts? Then find the other hidden objects.
Family Gatherings
Friend August 2019 “Funstuff: Find it” Every year this family gets together for a weekend of fun! This year, the cousins acted out a favorite scripture story for the rest of the family. Which story are they acting out? Can you find the hidden objects?
Friend May 2019 “Funstuff: Find It” Great-Grandma wanted an old-fashioned family dance party for her birthday! Find the hidden objects.
Families Come in a Variety of Ways
Friend July 2018 “Funstuff” Families come in all shapes and sizes. No two are exactly the same! Follow the lines to match the kids with the adults in their family.
Family Recreation
Friend June 2018 “Family Fun Jar” Things for kids to do together. Pick a paper from the jar when you’re bored or just want to have fun!
Friend April 2023 “Find It” This family likes playing at the beach together. Can you find the hidden objects?
Friend February 2019 “Find it!” Camila and Carlos are excited that all their cousins are visiting for Camila’s baptism tomorrow. Today they’re busy playing the best game of las escondidas (hide and seek) ever! Find Camila, Carlos, and their 10 cousins, all in red shirts. Then find 10 geckos.
Friend July 2020 “Helping a Sleepy Sister” Berrett noticed his sister was tired from studying late and he decided to be like Jesus and help her. He made her breakfast and lunch and wrote her a note saying he loved her.
Friend February 2020 “Free Dinosaur Hugs” After David’s grandma moved in with David’s family she became sad because she was missing her friends. David loves his grandma and wants her to be happy, so he made a card for her that said “Free hugs every day.”
Friend October 2024 “Macy’s Loving Songs” Macy’s grandfather was in the hospital and she wanted to do something to help him. She prayed to know what to do. The next morning she had an idea. She went and sang “I am a child of God” with him and prayed with him. He said she helped him feel better.
Friend December 2019 “The Red Paper Bird” Eve got sick and was very sad when she couldn’t go to the school Christmas party. Her teacher sent home a red bird Christmas craft the kids made during the party, and Eve’s brother and sister helped her make it. Whenever she looked at the red bird, she felt very loved. (Make the craft. Have a family member do a secret act of service for someone and leave the bird. Then that person does an act of service and leaves the bird. How many times can you pass the bird?)
Friend June 2018 “Bedtime For Felix” Anton can’t wait to get back to his game, but he has to put his baby brother to bed first. As he snuggled with his brother he realized he felt the happiest he had been all day.
Service Super Hero
Friend March 2018 “Matt and Mandy” Matt makes a super hero costume and secretly helps his mom.
Families Listen to and Respect Each Other
Friend June 2017 “Tickling Trouble” Lizzie and Max learn that we should listen to and respect each other. Pillow fights and tickling is only fun when everyone is having fun.
Family Discord
Friend September 2021 “Saying the Nice Things” Jonathon wasn’t looking forward to the weekend because lately there had been more bickering and teasing in the family. He prayed for help figuring out a way to make things better. Then he had an idea for home evening. When he conducted, he started a new thing where whoever conducts says a nice thing about each family member. Everyone felt warm and happy after Jonathon said nice things about them.
Family Council
Friend February 2017 “Matt and Mandy” Matt and Mandy decide they need a family council because they are disagreeing about chores.
Families Help and Support Each Other
Friend February 2022 “Matt and Mandy” Matt is disappointed that he didn’t make the soccer team, but he likes soccer, so he and Mandy play it together.
Friend April 2021 “The Sister Solo” Sophie loved to sing and wanted to take a singing class, but she had hearing problems and was afraid. Her sister volunteered to take the choir class too. Sophie was getting comfortable and having fun, but then she had problems with one of her solos. She prayed for help and the teacher suggested she sing the solo with her sister.
Friend January 2021 “Our Book of Mormon Goal” At Christmas, Mattea’s family all wrote down things that we were going to give Christ for the next year. Mattea’s grandma said she was going to read the Book of Mormon in four months. She had not gone to church since she was nine. All of Mattea’s aunts, uncles, and most of her cousins decided to read the Book of Mormon with her.
Friend March 2019 “Show and Tell” My sister has cerebral palsy and can’t talk or walk. I serve her each day by feeding her, playing with her, and making her laugh. I know when I serve her, I’m serving Heavenly Father. Ensign T., age 10, Utah, USA
Friend August 2018 “Matt and Mandy” Matt promised to help Mandy with her campaign to run for student council. He’s been busy but he keeps his promise.
Friend May 2021 “Our Family Move” Boston and his family were having a hard time adjusting to their move, so Boston started thinking of ways to help his family.
Friend October 2021 “Meet Nathan from the Republic of the Congo” Nathan likes to help his younger siblings Stephy and Aaron learn to read. He helps them with their homework and reads Book of Mormon stories with them. Nathan also helps his siblings make their beds and get ready for school with their snacks and backpacks. (see photo)
Friend June 2017 “Little Builders” Siblings build a blanket fort together.
Families Spend Time Together
Family Dinners
Friend March 2019 “The No-Phone Zone” At a family reunion, Tyler’s grandmother has everyone put their phones in a basket before dinner. At dinner (and after dinner), Tyler listened to all the family stories. He learned more about his dad as a child. He didn’t think about his phone at all. He told his grandma it was the best dinner ever.
Family Time Together
“Matt and Mandy” Each family member wants to do something different on their last Saturday before school starts, but they compromise and spend time together doing those things.
Friend December 2019 “The Bike Monster” April wanted a bike for Christmas so she could fit in at school. At Christmas she got an old used bike with big fat tires. Some kids at school said that if her family wasn’t so big they could afford a new bike for her. April thought about that and realized she wouldn’t trade a bike for any of her brothers or sisters.
Gifts of Love
Friend January 2017 “An Extra Special Present” Hadley is too young to earn money, but she wants to give her mom a birthday present, so she writes her mom a special poem of love.
Friend February 2016 Poem about the strange and annoying things a child’s family members does, but also realizing the wonderful things about them.
Friend June 1987 “Leaving Home” Three boys decide to live in their fort so they won’t have anybody telling them what to do. They encounter difficulties and realize their homes are wonderful.
Friend August 1988 “She’s Some Sister” Jason’s sister is getting married and he realizes he’s going to miss her.
Friend July 2018 “A Forever Feeling” Mia wants a forever family like her friend Zoey’s. Zoey’s home feels warm and happy. Mia and her family learn about the gospel and are baptized and sealed in the temple.
Friend March 2018 “Always Brothers” Luis is sad and mad that his new baby brother is going to die, but he is glad to learn that they will be brothers in heaven.
Friend February 2017 “Forever Family” Poem a girl created after her grandma passed away.
Friend October 2015 – Elder Oaks didn’t think of his mother as a widow because his mother taught him he had a father and they would always be a family.
Friend September 1988 “Mrs. Brocklebank” (Part Two) Kenneth’s grandmother joins the church and they are sealed as a family in the temple.
Friend July 2021 “A Postponed Trip” Freddie’s dad is going to South Korea because Freddie’s grandfather needs surgery. Freddie is sad that he doesn’t get to go because he is afraid his grandfather will die and he won’t get to see him again. His dad reminds him that families are forever and he will get to see his grandfather again.
You are a child of heavenly parents. Even before you came to this earth, you were part of Their family. And that will never change! So no matter what, you will always be part of a forever family!
Heavenly Father loves you and your parents very much. He wants you all to return to Him. He will keep blessing and guiding you and your family. Pray to Him about your worries, and He will comfort you.
Family Prayer
Friend July 2018 “Arturo’s Family Prayer” Arturo’s dad asks the family members what they need help with before saying the family prayer. He then prays for those things.
Friend June 2021 “A Prayer for Papi” Danna was worried about her Papi; he looked tired and sad. Her mom suggested she say a prayer for him. She asked Heavenly Father how she could help him. After her prayer, she had an idea. She wrote a letter to him telling him thank you for everything he does and reminding him that Heavenly Father loves him. It helped her father feel happy.
Friend July 2017 “Prayers and Butterflies” Sarah’s grandma hurt her leg. Sarah’s family discuss ways to help her. Sarah suggests saying a prayer that she’ll feel better. Afterwards the kids are inspired to draw pictures for her which makes her feel better.
Friend September 2016 “Heavenly Father Hears Your Prayers” Small stories. One about a brother praying for another brother because he knew the brother was worried about soccer. Also a story about a mother praying for her son to find a friend.
Friend September 2016Friend September 2016
Friend January 2017 “Don’t Forget to Pray for Erik” Kari doesn’t understand why Heavenly Father hasn’t answered their many family prayers for Erik to come back to the gospel.
Family Members Teach Each Other
Friend June 1987 “Harold Gets a Job” Susan teaches her little brother many things.
Family Influence & Example
Friend April 2021 “Braden Leads the Way” When Braden and his family had started taking missionary lessons, Braden was very interested and read all the assignments and wanted to get baptized. His father was a member but hadn’t been going to church and his mother wasn’t sure about joining the church. He kept encouraging his family to read and pray and eventually everyone was ready to join the gospel.
Friend November 2019 “Being an Example” Ivy is a good example for her brother. When she prays or reads her scriptures, he wants to do it too. Ivy is trying to follow her older brother’s example too (Jesus) by being kind. Activity Included: Draw a line to match the pictures of Jesus with ways you can be kind too.
Friend June 2018 “Show and Tell” “My younger brother and sister were fighting. I reminded them that Jesus taught us not to fight. It felt good to be a good example.” Tequan K., age 10, Lusaka, Zambia
Friend May 2018 “Finding Floppy” Sam’s big sister helps him look for his lost stuffed elephant, Floppy. When they can’t find Floppy, she suggests they say a prayer. After finding Floppy she suggests they say a prayer of thanks.
“I choose not to go to friends’ birthday parties when they are on Sundays. My younger brother was invited to his first friend party and was sad that it was on Sunday. He told me that he followed my example of keeping the Sabbath day holy, even though it was a hard choice.” John M., age 9, Texas, USA
Jalen is helping Nia pick up crayons that spilled. How many crayons can you count?
Friend June 2024 “Elise the Engineer” Elise wants to be an engineer when she grows up, but one day at school she couldn’t figure out how to do a math problem. She began to think she wasn’t smart enough to be an engineer, but her sister said, “When something is hard, that doesn’t mean you aren’t smart. It just means you need more practice.” With her sister’s help she was able to learn how to do the math problem, and her confidence returned. She was grateful for an older sister who loved her and wanted to help her..
Being Kind & Considerate of Each Other
Friend February 2021 “The Play” James set a goal to put on a scripture story play each week with his brother. Their little brother wanted be in it too. James was kind and gave him the part of playing a lion.
Friend August 2020 “As Different as Pythons and Peacocks” Siblings, Andrea and Michael both like the zoo, but they like very different things at the zoo. Even though they are different, they are kind and considerate of each other. (How many animals can you count in this story?)
Disagreements
“Babysitting Blues”- Friend July 2015– Girl learns that spending time with siblings while babysitting them helps her and them be happy. Link includes some babysitting tips.
Baby Sibling
Friend June 2018 “Funny Faces for Nathan” Cameron and his mom did everything together—until his new baby brother, Nathan, was born. Now his mom is always busy with Nathan. One day his mother asked him to help with the baby. Cameron helped him stop crying and made him laugh. He liked helping his brother. It felt good. He decides he likes having a baby brother.
Friend August 2019 “Brownies and a Big Sister” Molly isn’t sure if she wants a baby sister. Grandma asks for her help making a surprise treat for her parents for when they get home from the hospital. Grandma also tells her that her mom and dad will need her help by being a kind big sister. Molly decides to make a welcome home sign for her mom, dad, and new sister.
Friend March 2016 “Finally a Big Brother” Nolan is excited to have a new baby sister and to be a big brother.
Baby Blessing
Friend June 2019 “Baby’s Blessing Day” Kate learns that a baby blessing is special when her baby sister gets blessed.
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Parents
Having Parents that don’t go to Church
Friend July 2020 “A Sunbeam for Mommy” McKay was sad that his mom didn’t go to church with them. In Primary, they sang his favorite song “Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam.” They also made sun necklaces. He made his bright yellow and with a happy face for his mom because he wanted her to feel as happy as he did.
Friend June 2019 “Grateful for Parents” President Nelson’s parents didn’t attend church when he was young, and he wanted them to. The thing he wanted for Christmas every year was to be sealed to his parents. (Story includes a handout quote: “Pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father. Turn to Him for answers and for comfort.” —President Russell M. Nelson)
Friend July 2023 “Magnolia’s Amazing Dad” Some kids in Primary weren’t kind to Magnolia. They told her that her family wasn’t a good family because her Dad wasn’t a member of the church, but he went to church with them and he did scripture study and prayer with the family. It made her want to cry because her father was an amazing dad. Magnolia talked to her parents and said. “Jesus taught us to be kind to everyone. Saying mean things doesn’t seem like following Jesus.” “You’re right,” said Dad. “Maybe when you feel like saying something mean, you can remember how you felt when others were unkind to you. Then you can say something kind instead.”
Friend March 2019 “A Lesson from My Parents” Elder Massimo De Feo‘s Parents never joined the church, but they supported him and his brother taking the missionary lessons, and later they supported him going on a mission. They showed Christ like love for him and we’re good examples throughout his life.
Friend October 2016 “Lessons From Mother” Elder Mazaggardi’s mother wasn’t LDS but she taught him many important things such as honesty and giving tithes to the Lord.
Friend April 2023 “A Sunday Surprise” Janarthn was sad his father didn’t go to church with him and his mom. He prayed that his father would have time to come with them to church. One Sunday his mom was too sick to go to church. Janarthen was sad to miss church, but he decided to read stories in the Friend to keep the Sabbath Day holy. Then he got a surprise when his father said he would go with him to church. Janarthn felt so happy to be with his dad at church!
You are a child of heavenly parents. Even before you came to this earth, you were part of Their family. And that will never change! So no matter what, you will always be part of a forever family!
Heavenly Father loves you and your parents very much. He wants you all to return to Him. He will keep blessing and guiding you and your family. Pray to Him about your worries, and He will comfort you.
Grandparents
Friend October 2022 “Find It” This family is talking with grandparents who live far away! Can you find the items hidden below?
Friend January 2020 “Gracie’s Goal” Gracie got a set of scriptures from her grandparents at her baptism. She set a goal to read the Book of Mormon by her next birthday, but she is struggling with the goal because some of the words and chapters are hard to understand. She told her grandma that she was having a problem keeping up with her goal. Her grandma suggested that they read the Book of Mormon together every night on the phone. Gracie was able to accomplish her goal and understand the Book of Mormon better with her grandma’s help.
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Friend June 2017 “Welcome to Cousin Camp” Carson’s grandma has cousin camp every year. This year’s theme is on service. They do many service projects together.
Friend June 2017Friend June 2017Friend June 2017
Family Service for Grandparents
Friend September 2020 “The Most Important Job” Amelia’s family was going to help clean grandma’s house. Amelia’s mom wanted her to do the special job of just listening to grandma while the rest of them cleaned. Amelia’s grandma told her lots of stories from her childhood. Amelia gave grandma a big hug before leaving. Grandma had tears in her eyes and told Amelia she loved her. Amelia felt warm inside. It had been cool learning so much about her grandma.
Grandparent with Alzheimers
Friend January 2023 “Remembering with Grandma” Mari was frustrated when her grandmother told her the same story over and over again. Her dad explained that grandma has a sickness in her brain that makes her forget things, and her stories are her way of trying to remember who she is. Mari remembered how her grandmother had always treated her with love. Mari decided to do the same for her grandma.
Friend November 2021 “Let’s Invite Everyone” Most of Jarom’s family were not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They did not know much about baptism. But they knew it was a special day for Jarom, so when he invited all his aunts, uncles, and cousins to his baptism they said, “We will be there!” A special saying that the Maori love is, “What is the most important thing in the world? It is the people, the people, the people.”
Family Sacrifice
Friend January 1987 “The rush-rush Day” Jarod sacrificed what he wanted to do so his family members could get the things done they needed to.
Family Members Help Each Other
Friend May 2019 “Kindness at the Carnival” A boy is looking forward to playing with his friends, but then his sister comes home upset because she doesn’t have any real friends and nobody will go with her to school carnival. The brother wants to help, so he volunteers to go with her, and tells her that she is his friend too.
Friend June 2018 “Showing Her Love” A girl named Love from Nigeria helps her family in many ways. (Link includes photos.)
Friend April 2018 “Prayer in the Checkout Line” Eli helps his mom with his fussy siblings at the store. He also says a prayer for her when he sees how their fussiness is making things hard for her
Friend January 2018 “Adam’s Big Green Cast” Matthew’s little brother broke his leg and has to wear a cast that doesn’t let him move. Matthew helps his brother feel better by playing with him and finding things Adam can do without moving.
Friend October 2017 “Helping Mrs. Brewster” Ryan helps his brother Jackson rake the neighbor’s leaves.
Friend October 2017 “I Like to Help” Poem – A boy helps his family members during the week.
Friend May 2017 “That’s My Brother” Eric doesn’t have any friends yet and doesn’t like going to recess, but his brother comes and helps him find a friend during recess.
Friend May 2017 “The Gecko Rescue” Andrea sews up a hole in her mom’s gecko beanbag so her mom wouldn’t be sad.
Story Activiy: Children can draw a line to a number on the gecko for every way they mention that they can help and serve family members.
Friend February 2017 “Double Happy” Lily helps her little brother, Sam, feel comfortable in Primary, but her parents want her to let Sam’s teacher do that now so Lily can go to her class. Lily obeys even though she’s worried about Sam, and they both have a great time in Primary.
Friend Novepmber 2016 “Big Sister Madelyn” Madelyn’s mother is sick, so Madelyn helps with the baby. Also an activity to find what toys are okay for the baby.
Friend October 2016 “Brave Enough” Christine asks her brother for help when she gets scared of a noise at her window.
Friend June 2015 “The Funny Face Fix” Ben helps his sister feel happy by making funny faces.
Friend June 2015 – Girl feels sad aunt is sick and can’t go to beach, so she brings aunt something from the beach.
Things are Better when You Work Together
Friend October 2019 “Frowns, Smiles, and Leaf Piles” Siblings, Tony and Erin fight over a cookie. Their mother has them rake and bag the leaves without helping each other. They soon realize that it is hard to do alone and would be easier working together. They also realize that things are easier and better when they work together as a team.
Families Come in a Variety of Ways
Friend February 2019 “My Eternal Family” Addie was born in South Korea and adopted by a family in Washington USA. She was then sealed to her new family. (Also how to make Addie’s favorite food and craft.)
Friend July 2018 “Goodly Grandparents” Andrew lives with his grandparents, so when his class has a Bring-a-Parent-to-School Day so he doesn’t know what to do. But then he realizes his grandparents do all the kind, loving things parents do.
Friend January 2018 “Am I a Child of God?” Chloe hears the song “I am a Child of God”in Primary and wonders why she wasn’t born to “parents kind and dear,” and wonders if she is a child of God, but she has an adopted family who loves her.
Friend July 2020 “Different but Together” Ellie and her family went on a trip to visit their cousins. The cousins didn’t want Ellie’s family to talk about church things while they were there so that they wouldn’t have disagreements. Ellie had had a lot of fun visiting with her cousins. She realized that even if they believed in different things, they could still be a happy family.
Friend October 2021 “Peace and Primary Songs” Max loved Primary because he felt safe and loved there. His family wasn’t like the happy families they sang about in Primary. One Sunday, the chorister asked them to imagine being grown up with a family. Max imagined praying with his family and having family home evening and playing with them. It made Max feel happy and peaceful to know that someday he could have a family like that.
Divorce
Friend May 2021 “Charlotte’s Family” In Primary, Charlotte didn’t want to hear the song “Families are Forever” so she sat in the hall. Her parents were getting a divorce and it made her feel sick. Sister Henry came and talked to her about what made her feel better when her parents got a divorce, such as remembering that her parents loved her and also thinking about her perfect family in heaven. Charlotte decided to think about her heavenly family when they sang the song “Families are Forever.”
Items needed: ribbon or yarn, 16 page protectors, magnets, two brads, and one of each the following colors of cardstock – red, orange, blue, green, yellow, purple, brown, pink.
Print the song pages. Cut out the boy and glue him next to the arrow sign on the first page. Put the song pages into page protectors. Also put the colored cardstock into page protectors. Using pieces of ribbon or yarn tied through the page protector holes, attach one colored cardstock to the top of each song page. (Be sure to put brown, green, yellow and orange on the first verse to match the small choosing wheel.) Using glue or double-sided tape, attach strong magnets to the back of each song page. Then attach one magnet to the front of each colored cardstock page.
Print the choosing wheels onto cardstock. Cut out each of the blank wheels. Cut open the window boxes on the dotted lines with an exacto knife. Center each blank wheel over the top of its matching color dot wheel. Poke a hole with a pin through the center dot all the way through both wheels. Push a brad through the hole and spread out the brad arms in the back – not too tightly. Note: colored squares can be glued over the dots to match available paper.
EXTRA: Here is another choosing wheel for those who want to break the lessons up into three weeks. This wheel would be for the second and third verses and would be used the second week. The final week would use the large wheel and all the verses.
Presentation
This song is about two things. It tells us that good choices bless and strengthen our families, and the chorus reminds us that we have the guidance of the Holy Ghost to help us make good choices.
Week One
Put the song pages of the first verse on the board with the cardstock pages covering them. Uncover each song page as you discuss it. (I have included discussion suggestions for each song line.)
“I came to earth with power to choose.” – This means we were given free agency to decide what we will do on earth.
“Good choices bless me and my family too.” – Ask the children what choices would bless them and their family and why.
Have the pianist play the first two lines so the children can hear how they sound, then have them sing those lines.
“As a child of God I receive special light.” – This part of the song is the chorus and we sing this with each verse. It talks about a way we can receive help to know which choices are good and which choices are not good. (Ask the children to tell you what light they think the line is talking about, explain that it is a guiding light.)
“The Holy Ghost helps me to know what is right.” – In what ways does the Holy Ghost communicate with us and help us know which choices are right. (Through good feelings, thoughts, or we may even hear a still small voice.)
Have the pianist play the chorus lines so the children can hear how they sound, then have them sing those lines. Then have the children sing all four lines of the first verse.
Memorizing Activity
Using the small wheel, do the following activity to help the children memorize the first verse. Put the wheel on the board and show the children that there are four different colored spots on the wheel. Have a child spin the wheel and open the window to show which color it landed on. That child covers up the song page with the matching colored cardstock. Sing the song again. Have another child spin the wheel. If it lands on the same color as before, they have to uncover that song line. If it lands on another color they have to cover up that one. Explain that the object of the game is to get every song line page covered up. (After singing the song for the first two spins they only have to sing the song every two spins after that.)
Week Two
The following week put all the song pages on the board. Put each verse in a column and the chorus under the columns. Discuss the lines from the second and third verse, then sing the verses. Afterwards play the memorizing game using the large wheel and all the song pages. Use the same rules as the week before, except add some choices to the game. After they close or open the color that the wheel landed on, they also get to choose another color (or the color they landed on) to close. The object once again is to get all the pages closed.
“I feel so safe and happy because”– Have the children look at the picture. Ask if they think the child looks safe and happy in his father’s arms. Ask why they think the child feels safe and happy. (Because his father protects, takes care of, and loves him.)
“Such feelings of peace come from family love.”– Point out that the picture of the family and heart remind them of the words family love. Also point out that we feel peace in our home when it is filled with actions that demonstrate our love for each other. What actions might disrupt peace in a home? (Fighting and bickering, selfishness, not helping each other, etc.) Remind the children that the Holy Ghost can help them make good choices in their families, and then review the chorus.
“In my own home I’ll happily serve.” – Why do you think people happily serve in their homes? Because they know that their service helps promote the feelings of love, peace, and joy in their homes.
“I’ll strengthen my family by my good works” – What good works can we do to help strengthen our family? (Ask what the boy in the picture is doing and how that helps strengthen his family.)
NEW: I added to this idea to make it more effective. See “As a Child of God” in the song list.
